COLUMBIA, S.C. — Kenneth Shuler, the Columbia businessman who was founder and chief executive of Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology, has died, his family announced Tuesday. He had been a well-known name in the South Carolina beauty industry for more than 50 years.
His son, Garrett Shuler, the school vice president, delivered the news in a message to the school community. School leaders remembered the founder as a mentor who pushed students to believe in themselves and build their futures.
Shuler built the business from Columbia. In 1968 he purchased his first barber school in the city, Capital Barber College, and that school grew into the cosmetology chain that carries his name.
The school now teaches cosmetology and esthetics to South Carolina, Georgia and North Carolina residents, with a Columbia campus at 449 St. Andrews Rd. Its training centers on modern color techniques, Redken cutting systems and state board preparation.
The school said Shuler liked to say he never worked a day in his life because he loved what he did. It asked students, educators and graduates to honor him by chasing their passions and helping others succeed.
